Yarn guide



NOV. 4, 1958 J J MGDONQUGH 2,858,684

YARN GUIDE Filed May 51, 1955 INVENTOR.

JOHN J. McDON BY I OUGH v ATTORNEYS YARN GUIDE John J. McDonough, Laconia, H.,assiguor to Scott & Williams, Incorporated, Laconia, N. H., a corporation of Massachusetts r Application May 31, 1955, Serial No. 512,159

4 Claims. -(Cl. 66- 125) This invention relates to yarn guides for knitting machines and has particular reference to yarn guides which will successfully withstand the abrasive action of synthetic yarns such as nylon. 1 a 1 The handling of nylon yarnin knitting machines presents a considerable problem in that in view of its abrasive quality it will rapidly cut a groove in a guide opening formed in a steel guide member. To avoid this, various types of bushings or eyes have been inserted in guide members for the passage of nylon yarn and those which appear to be most satisfactory have been made of ceramic material. But such ceramic eyes have usually involved relatively large space requirements which are inconsistent with limited spaces which are available, for example, in connection with the feeding of yarns in knitting machines wherein there are provided a number of closely associated yarn fingers selectively movable into feeding position and desirably so constructed as to effect the feeding of the various yarns from substantially the same location relative to a particular phase of movement of needles. Heretofore, in feeding relatively non-abrasive yarns such fingers have been comprised in a stack of relatively thin metal members provided with openings so that, as they move into adjacent positions, the several yarns passing through the openings would be fed from approximately the same location at the edge of a throat plate. If ceramic eyes are provided in such fingers, the required dimensions were generally such as to cause the several yarns to be fed from rather different locations with consequent disturbing of relationship of the line of feed to the needles.

Another difiiculty arising in the use of ceramic eyes lies in their mounting in a carrier member.

In accordance with the present invention, yarn guides for abrasive yarns are provided which, though of metal which would normally be readily grooved by the yarn, are so arranged with freedom to revolve that they are merely polished rather than cut by the yarn and as a consequence have long life.

The general object of the invention is to provide yarn guides of the type indicated for knitting machines, and this object together with others relating to details of construction and operation will become apparent from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the improved type of yarn guide used in a knitting machine; and

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a different path of passage of the yarn through the guide.

While the invention will be described as applied to a main yarn feeding finger of a knitting machine, it will be evident that the invention is also applicable to provide guides associated with wrap yarn carriers.

There is indicated at 2 the throat plate of a conventional circular knitting machine with which are associated a number of yarn fingers 4 of which one is shown but which would, as usual, be located side by side and pivot either to raised position above the throat plate,-wlierein yarn-feeding fingers 4, without the end just mentioned has soldered thereto at 10 a wire 8 desirably of spr' material and flexible, which wire is defiected forwardly',

their yarns would be withdrawn from action, or', as" illustrated, resting" on the throat plate in positi'omso' thattheir'yarns would pass over theedge of the throat plate to be seized by needles 6. In accordance with prior practice, these fingers 4 would be provided"with"'encls" extending toward the edge of the throat platethe ,ends" being provided with feeding openings. 7 v In accordance with the present invention, each of the' tlien'downwardly, and finally backwa'rdly as indicated at 12 to provide a mounting for tube'1f4, whichfiesir ably' i's of 'hardened steel, though soft steel may used, providedwith abore considerably larger thati'the' diameter-of'the wire-Sand sufiicientlylargeto accent:

modate additionally the yarn16 which is to befed by the fingers. Initially, the ends of the bore through the tube are desirably smoothly flared outwardly and polished to provide free passage of the yarn. To give an indication of the small dimensions which may be involved in a typical arrangement the tube 14 has been approximately 0.16 inch in length with an outside diameter of 0.065 inch and an inside diameter of 0.035 inch, the supporting wire 8 being of 0.012 inch music wire. As indicated in the drawing, the bends of this wire above and below the tube are spaced to an extent greater than the tube length so that the tube has a loose fit on the wire, being capable of freely revolving thereon.

The yarn 16 in passing through the tube may approach the tube approximately vertically but on leaving the tube will pass laterally in the direction of movement of the needles relative to the throat plate over the edge of the throat plate and thence downwardly and laterally to the position of engagement by the needles. As will be evident, such a path involves movement having a tangential component relative to the tube 14 as a result of which friction will cause the tube to revolve as the yarn passes therethrough to the needles. Such revolving of the tube continuously presents new surfaces to the yarn and the result has been found in practice to be that of very slight wear on the tube or, at any rate, wear distributed so uniformly in the vicinity of the ends of the tube that the guide has a very long life in contrast with an arrangement in which a similar yarn passed in a constant path relative to a fixed metallic bore. In the latter case, a groove is worn very rapidly into the guide with increase of friction and possible ultimate gripping and breaking of the yarn particularly where the yarn has been knotted. In accordance with the arrangement described, the result is essentially that of mere polishing and with free movement of yarn knots through the tube.

Figure 2 shows the yarn 16' extending through the guide of the type shown in Figure 1 in particular which involves the wrapping of the yarn 16' about the wire 8.

. It is found that threading of the guide in this fashion serves to promote rotation more positively than passage in accordance with what is shown in Figure 1. The yarn may be wrapped in either direction about the wire 8 to provide a corresponding direction of rotation to the tube. As shown in Figure 2, the direction of rotation will be as indicated by the arrow A.

It will be evident from the foregoing that the invention is of quite general applicability, noting that wherever possible the tube should be so arranged that the yarn. in passing through it has a tangential component of motion relative to the tube serving to rotate it frictionally to' secure distribution of the location of wear. However, even without drive by the movement of the yarn vibraat least irregularly to present new surface portions for wear.

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uidin mean s mnrisin 1 111 and-11a wiretlikemem-i be; eztending through; saidrtuheiqriloosely,suppertingi 1 v boresubstantially larger than said Wire-like member for the passag'e o f; F81 -ya-i"n therethroughr References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED-STAFFES :PATENTS 240,514 Haryey'. Apr. 26, 1881 2,046,293 German June 30, 1936 2,162,107 Newton June 13, 1939 2,797,056 Smetana June 25, 1957 FOREIGN LPATENTS 1253,4152: Greats-Britain June -17 1926' 311,241 Great Britain Aug. 7, 1930 1,019,0filz: France Oct.22, 1952 

